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Finding the right sofa for your living room is a little bit like dating. It can be a lot of work to find the one, but once you do, you get to enjoy a lifetime of happiness together.

The “perfect sofa” might look different for everyone, but we can probably all agree that it should be comfortable, fit in your living room, reflect your style, and hopefully last a few years (if not more).

Enjoying your perfect sofa is the easy part. Finding it takes work.

While you probably have a good sense of what you’re looking for in a sofa, you might need a little help uncovering how much you should spend on one.

Sofas can be expensive, there’s no denying that. For some people it might make sense to invest in a quality piece that will last years. For others, buying something that works for right now is a better option. But where do you fall on the spectrum?

Because we’d rather you spend your time focusing on your real dating life (or with your family, pursuing that new hobby, or doing any other activity that brings you joy), we created a sofa buying guide to help you easily understand how much you should spend on a sofa.

5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying a New Sofa

Question 1: How much do you want to spend on a sofa?

It can be hard to wrap your head around how much you should spend on a sofa if you’re not even sure how much the average sofa costs. A good place to start is to get familiar with some average price ranges for sofas.

Numbers to know:

$1000 or less: The sub-thousand dollar range is what we’d consider an inexpensive sofa.

$1000 – $2000: A mid-range priced sofa generally falls in between one to two thousand dollars.

$2000 or more: Anything above two grand, we would consider to be an expensive sofa.

The Bottom Line: Survey the sofa landscape to help you get a sense of how much you might want to spend.

Question 2: How Nomadic are You?

Sofas are large, bulky, and not the easiest pieces of furniture to move. One that works perfectly in your current home, might not fit through the doorway at your next.

Your solve:

I move a lot or will be moving soon: If you plan to only live where you are for under a year, consider skimping on an inexpensive sofa that you won’t have to worry about lugging to a new location.

I’m relatively settled: Around five years? Maybe a slightly higher-quality option is the best fit for you. You want something that will last you that half decade or so, but won’t be missed if you can’t bring it with you.

I’m in it for the long haul: Finally, if you are relatively settled in your current home, it makes more sense to invest in a high quality sofa that will last.

The Bottom Line: Your overall timeline is important to consider before making a big-ticket purchase that isn’t easy to transport with you.

Question 3: Are You into Trends?

A trendy sofa looks great right now, but you might find you’re sick of it after a short time.

Your solve:

I love trends: If you can’t say no to a sofa with a bold color or statement pattern, consider opting for a lower-cost option rather than investing in a more expensive one. Unlike decorative accents, you can’t as easily move a sofa from room to room when you get tired of it. Don’t sink your money into something you’ll be sick of in a year.

Trends don’t phase me: If you’re looking for a sofa that can transcend your current tastes, consider investing in a high-quality option. This can be a sofa with a neutral fabric, a quality leather option, or a even a sofa with a versatile shape, such as a chaise that can switch sides.

The Bottom Line: If you want to splurge on a quality sofa, it’s important to find one that works for both now and later.

Question 4: Do You Have Kids or Pets?

Although we love kids and we love pets, it’s a fact that they are the culprits behind a lot of our furniture’s wear and tear.

Your solve:

Don’t stress: One way around this is to choose a budget-friendly sofa that you don’t mind replacing as it gets worn out.

Call for reinforcements: The alternative is to invest in a higher quality option. Opt for a sofa that’s durable and can take whatever your kids/pets throw at it. Consider choosing a stain resistant fabric. Quality leather is also great for pets. You want something that won’t stain or rip easily and doesn’t attract fur like a magnet.

The Bottom Line: You know your kids and pets the best, so factor them into the picture when deciding what sofa makes sense for your family.

Question 5: How Much Time Will You Spend on Your Sofa?

If you use it a lot, don’t make yourself miserable with something that’s uncomfortable.

Your solve:

My sofa is just for looks: If you’re always on the go and rarely spend time on your sofa, no need to invest in a high-quality, ultra-comfy option. Something inexpensive but stylish can suffice.

My sofa is my other half: If you’re a self-proclaimed couch potato, don’t skimp on a cheap sofa that makes you uncomfortable. You can find plenty of inexpensive sofas that are also comfortable and of high quality.

The Bottom Line: Invest in quality and comfort for the things you use daily, like your mattress and sofa.

Ready to find your perfect sofa?

Or, if you want some insurance before splurging on a sofa, try on some options in your home before you make the investment. Modsy can help show you how real sofas will look in your actual home using our virtual design tools. Then, shop directly from your design plans and take advantage of our insider rewards program to save!

Click here to get started, or if you’re already a Modsy customer, head to your studio and ring the assistance bell to see some new products in your space!

If you’ve done any internet browsing for rugs, you might have stumbled across the fact rugs are, more often than not, really freaking expensive.

Even if we exclude the handmade oriental rugs, which can easily fetch upwards of several thousands of dollars, a standard 8’x10’ rug from a popular furniture retailer can still cost you a month’s rent.

To help shed some light on the subject, we’re taking a look at all the reasons why rugs are so expensive. We’re hashing out what factors make up a rug’s price so you can decide which are important for you.

What the rug is made of:

What a rug is made of matters. The material a rug is made of will determine the quality of the rug and effect how long it lasts. The main difference between materials often lies in their durability and clean-ability.

Rugs are most commonly made of either natural fibers – like wool or silk – or synthetic materials – like nylon or polyester. Here is a quick breakdown of the pros and cons of each material.

Wool:

A sturdy natural fiber, wool rugs are generally a more expensive option. This is because wool rugs last for decades, are highly durable, and keep their color and pattern over time. As a material, a rug made of wool will have a more soft and plush texture than its synthetic counterparts.

Silk:

Second to wool in its durability, silk rugs are coveted for their high-shine and luscious texture. Silk rugs tend to be extremely expensive and they require professional cleaning, making them not the best fit for homes with kids, pets, or heavy foot-traffic.

Nylon:

A less expensive, synthetic alternative, nylon is known for its durability. This makes it a good choice for high-traffic areas. Conversely, the material is highly absorbent, meaning a nylon rug can be easily ruined by spills.

Polyester:

Another inexpensive and synthetic option, polyester is a less absorbent material, rendering it is more stain-resistant. That said, polyester is a less durable material, and rugs made from it tend to fall apart more easily and quickly.

What the rug is dyed with:

Rugs are generally given their color with either natural, usually vegetable-based, dyes or chemical dyes.

Natural dyes tend to be more lightfast, meaning they will not fade over time. Rugs dyed with natural options take more labor to produce, making them more expensive.

Chemical dyes are a much cheaper alternative. Depending on the dye and method of the dying process, these options tend to fade much quicker (even after a few months of foot traffic).

How the rug is made:

The method by which a rug is made also is an important factor in determining its price.

The more expensive options tend to be loomed by hand and can take days of labor to complete. These rugs contain a high knot-count, which results in that amazing plush texture and their rich colors. They are more durable and can last decades if cared for properly.

The alternative to costly hand-made rugs, are machine made rugs. These options have a lower density of knots and a looser weave, causing them to be less durable in the long run.

Other things to consider:

The ethics behind rugs

Another component behind the cost of rugs is the ethics behind their production. Rugs made in factories with child labor are able to be sold at an extremely cheap price point. Before you purchase a rug, consider doing a bit of research on its production methods.

Value over time

While not so much a factor in the cost of a rug, another point to consider before you make a purchase is that rugs keep their value over time.

Like investing in a piece of art, quality rugs can be resold later and retain much of their original value. If cared for properly they can last decades and be passed down as a family heirloom.

So, why are rugs so expensive?

The materials, the dyes, method of production are the main points that make up a rug’s price.

Still unsure how much you should spend on a rug? These four questions will help you decide if you should splurge or skimp on your next rug.

Need help finding a your perfect rug?

Modsy designers are standing by to help you find the perfect rug – or sofa, or bed frame – for your style and budget. They’ll show how different options look and fit in your exact space, so you can shop with confidence and skip the stress.

If you are in the process of designing your home, you might have discovered the dirty word that is “budget.” Furniture is expensive, and the reality of designing a home (without spending a small fortune) often means making trade-offs. One of our stylists’ favorite tricks for designing quality spaces on a limited budget is to use a mix of budget-friendly and investment pieces.

In our new “Skimp or Splurge” series, we’ll tackle different items from sofas to storage, and show you how to decide where to spend and where to save your money.

This week we’re taking on the question of rugs. Available in an impossibly wide range of prices, it can be difficult to know how to choose an option that is right for you. We asked our stylists how they decide when to splurge and when to save on rugs.

1. What do you want from your rug?

The main difference between an 8’x10’ rug that costs $300 and one that costs a month’s mortgage payment is quality. High-quality rugs have a richness of color and a plush texture, and they can last you a decade or more if you care for them properly. Low-cost rugs, on the other hand, will fade and pill quickly and need to be replaced more frequently.

If you are working with a tight budget, but don’t want to completely skimp on quality, consider a flat-woven rather than a tufted rug. Flat-woven rugs tend to be available in larger sizes at lower price-points, and their tight weave renders them more durable.

Stylist Tip: With so many options on the market today, you don’t have to sacrifice style for budget. Our stylists can recommend budget-friendly rug options that work for your space and style.

2. What’s your timeline?

As with any big ticket furniture item, how long you plan to live somewhere is an important factor to consider before making a purchase.

If your living situation is temporary, you might consider skimping and going with a cheap option. If you’re settled down or plan to live in the same place long-term, investing in a quality rug makes more sense.

Also consider that rugs, unlike other pieces of bulky furniture, are relatively easy to move. They can be rolled up making them much easier to transport and store. Unlike other items, if you get tired of seeing your rug in the living room, it can be repurposed in another room.

3. What room will the rug be in?

Where you plan to place the rug is also an important factor to think about when considering whether to invest or save your money. Ask yourself if the room where you plan to use the rug will get a lot of foot traffic.

A place like your entryway might not make the most sense for an investment rug as it is more likely to get stomped on and worn down from heavy use. Conversely, your living room or bedroom might be a great place for an investment rug.

Stylist Tip: Also consider if you are a shoes-on household. Habits like these are difficult to break (especially if you live with other people) so consider how your lifestyle might affect the lifetime of your rug when deciding if it is better to skimp or splurge.

4. Do you have kids or pets?

Often people say they don’t want to invest in a rug because their kids and pets are prone to messes. One way to confront this conundrum is to go with a lower cost rug that you won’t miss when it gets destroyed. However, this approach might cost you more in the long run, as cheap rugs tend to fall apart quicker and are often made of materials that absorb stains easily.

Rather than replacing a $200 rug every six months, consider investing in a high-quality rug that can stand up to the messes and won’t get destroyed immediately by your children or furry friends. Natural fibers can be a great option, as they are sturdy and are easy to clean.

If you have young children, also consider that cheap rugs are often made of synthetic materials, which can be potentially toxic. If you have a little one who is an avid crawler, it might be worth investing in a high-quality rug that is free of toxic protectants and fire retarding chemicals.